✔ Updated · 40 recipes: sides, salads, breakfasts, mains, soups + snacks
Spinach is the ultimate sneaky green: it melts into pasta, eggs, dips and curries and makes everything taste fresh and vibrant. Here are 40 of the best ways to use a bag of spinach.
The most popular spinach recipes are creamed spinach, garlic sautéed spinach, spinach artichoke dip, spanakopita, spinach and feta quiche, stuffed pasta shells and saag paneer. For quick everyday ideas, stir a few handfuls into scrambled eggs, smoothies, soups or pasta at the very end of cooking. Ten ounces of fresh spinach cooks down to about 1 cup.
- Fastest: garlic sautéed spinach (5 minutes) or a green smoothie
- Party favorite: hot spinach artichoke dip or spinach puffs
- Dinner: stuffed shells, chicken Florentine or saag paneer
- Fresh: strawberry spinach salad or wilted spinach salad with bacon
Spinach Side Dishes
1. Creamed Spinach
Silky spinach in a garlicky cream sauce, steakhouse-style. Rich, comforting and ready in 20 minutes.
Get the recipe →2. Garlic Sautéed Spinach
Fresh spinach wilted in olive oil with sliced garlic and a squeeze of lemon. Done in 5 minutes flat.
3. Saag Aloo
Potatoes and spinach cooked with cumin, ginger and garam masala. A cozy Indian side or vegetarian main.
4. Saag Paneer
Cubes of paneer in a smooth, spiced spinach sauce. Scoop it up with warm naan.
5. Spinach and Zucchini Gratin
Layers of zucchini and spinach baked under a cheesy, golden crumb. Great with roast chicken.
6. Spinach Balls
Spinach, stuffing crumbs, Parmesan and egg rolled into balls and baked until crisp. A retro party favorite.
Spinach Salads
7. Strawberry Spinach Salad
Baby spinach, sliced strawberries, toasted almonds and feta with a poppy seed dressing. Sweet, tangy and pretty.
8. Wilted Spinach Salad With Bacon
Warm bacon dressing poured over spinach, sliced egg and red onion. Old-school and so good.
9. Steak, Radish and Spinach Salad
Seared steak slices over spinach with peppery radishes and a mustard vinaigrette. A full meal in a bowl.
10. Fig, Prosciutto and Spinach Salad
Fresh figs, salty prosciutto and goat cheese on spinach with balsamic. Fancy enough for guests.
11. Spinach and Orzo Salad
Orzo, spinach, cherry tomatoes, feta and lemon dressing. Holds well for picnics and lunches.
Breakfast and Brunch
12. Green Machine Smoothie
Spinach blended with banana, pineapple and milk. You can't taste the greens, promise.
Get the recipe →13. Scrambled Eggs With Spinach
Wilt a handful of spinach in butter, then add the eggs. A fast, protein-packed breakfast.
14. Spinach and Feta Wrap
Egg whites, spinach, feta and sun-dried tomato in a whole wheat wrap, copycat-style.
Get the recipe →15. Spinach and Mushroom Frittata
Eggs, sautéed mushrooms, spinach and cheese baked in one skillet. Slice it into wedges for brunch.
16. Spinach and Goat Cheese Quiche
A buttery crust filled with creamy custard, spinach and tangy goat cheese. Lovely warm or cold.
17. Spinach Egg Muffins
Whisked eggs, spinach, peppers and cheese baked in a muffin tin. Grab-and-go breakfasts for the week.
18. Spinach Breakfast Burrito
Scrambled eggs, spinach, cheese and salsa rolled in a tortilla. Freezer-friendly too.
Pasta and Pizza
19. Spinach Stuffed Pasta Shells
Jumbo shells filled with ricotta, spinach and Parmesan, baked in marinara with mozzarella on top.
20. Spinach, Mushroom and Leek Pasta
Pasta tossed with buttery leeks, mushrooms and wilted spinach. Creamy without any cream.
21. Spinach Lasagna
Layers of pasta, spinach-ricotta filling, marinara and mozzarella. A crowd-pleasing vegetarian lasagna.
22. Spinach and Ricotta Calzone
Pizza dough folded around ricotta, mozzarella and spinach, then baked until golden and puffy.
23. Florentine Pizza
Pizza topped with garlicky spinach, mozzarella and a cracked egg in the middle. Brunch pizza, basically.
24. Tuna and Spinach Pasta Bake
A cheesy weeknight pasta bake with tuna, sweetcorn and spinach. Budget-friendly and kid-approved.
Chicken and Main Dishes
25. Chicken Florentine
Seared chicken breasts in a creamy spinach and Parmesan sauce. Cook chicken to 165°F.
26. Spinach and Feta Stuffed Chicken
Chicken breasts stuffed with spinach, feta and garlic, then baked until juicy.
27. Chicken and Spinach Casserole
Chicken, rice, spinach and a creamy sauce baked under cheese. Comfort food in one dish.
28. Honey Mustard Chicken With Spinach
Slow cooker chicken in honey mustard sauce with spinach stirred in at the end.
29. Spinach Enchiladas
Tortillas rolled around spinach, cheese and beans, smothered in sauce and baked.
30. Yam Porridge
A Nigerian one-pot of yam simmered in a peppery palm oil sauce with spinach stirred in.
Get the recipe →Soups
31. Chicken Gnocchi Soup
Creamy chicken soup with potato gnocchi, carrots and plenty of spinach, copycat-style.
Get the recipe →32. Chicken Spinach Tortellini Soup
Cheese tortellini and chicken in a garlicky broth with spinach wilted in at the end.
33. Italian Wedding Soup
Tiny meatballs and small pasta in chicken broth with spinach. Cook meatballs to 160°F.
34. Lentil and Spinach Soup
Hearty lentils with cumin, lemon and spinach. Cheap, filling and vegan.
Dips, Pies and Snacks
35. Spinach Artichoke Dip
Hot, bubbling, cheesy dip loaded with spinach and artichokes. Serve with chips or toasted bread.
Get the recipe →
36. Velveeta Spinach Dip
Super creamy, melty spinach dip with Velveeta and Rotel-style tomatoes. Game-day essential.
Get the recipe →
37. Cold Spinach Dip
The classic chilled spinach dip with sour cream and water chestnuts, served in a bread bowl.
Get the recipe →
38. Spinach Puffs
Flaky puff pastry cups filled with spinach, feta and cream cheese. Perfect party bites.
Get the recipe →39. Spanakopita
Greek spinach and feta pie in layers of crispy filo. Make one big pie or little triangles.
40. Spinach and Cheese Empanadas
Golden hand pies stuffed with spinach, onion and cheese. Bake a batch and freeze extras.
Tips for Cooking With Spinach
- It shrinks a lot. A 10-ounce bag of fresh spinach cooks down to about 1 cup, so buy more than you think.
- Squeeze frozen spinach dry. For dips, pies and stuffed shells, wring thawed spinach in a clean towel, or your dish will be watery.
- Add it last. Stir spinach into soups, pasta and curries in the final minute or two so it stays bright green.
- Baby vs mature spinach: tender baby spinach is best raw in salads and smoothies; bigger leaves are great cooked.
- Storage: keep fresh spinach in the fridge with a paper towel in the bag, and use within 3 to 5 days.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best way to cook spinach?
Sautéing is the quickest and tastiest way. Heat olive oil with sliced garlic, add the spinach in handfuls and toss for 2 to 3 minutes until just wilted, then season with salt and lemon. Steaming also works. Avoid boiling, which makes spinach watery and dull.
What can I make with a bag of spinach?
Use a bag of spinach in creamed spinach, scrambled eggs, frittata, smoothies, soups, stuffed shells, spinach dip or a strawberry spinach salad. You can also stir handfuls into pasta sauces and curries at the end of cooking. Most of these use 5 to 10 ounces.
Can you use frozen spinach instead of fresh?
Yes, for cooked dishes like dips, lasagna, quiche, spanakopita and soups. About 10 ounces of frozen spinach equals roughly 1 pound of fresh. Thaw it and squeeze out as much water as possible first. Use fresh spinach for salads and quick sautés.
How much does spinach cook down?
A lot. Spinach is mostly water, so 10 ounces of fresh leaves cooks down to about 1 cup. For a side dish, plan on about 1/2 pound of fresh spinach per person. That's why recipes like creamed spinach start with what looks like a huge pile.
Is it OK to eat raw spinach?
Yes. Raw baby spinach is great in salads, smoothies, wraps and sandwiches. Wash it well first. Cooking spinach makes it easier to eat more of it, and both raw and cooked spinach work well in everyday recipes.
